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Community Care of West Virginia will use more than $1.1 million in public funding to deploy a mobile clinic, expand telehealth services and train new and current healthcare workers.
Chief Executive Officer Patricia “Trish” Collett emphasized how the money will help Community Care meet patients’ needs and train healthcare workers.
“As a federally qualified health center, we rely heavily on these awards to implement new and innovative ways to meet the needs of the communities we serve, and further the education of our staff as well as those who wish to enter the healthcare field,” Collett said in the organization’s release.
The four awards total $1,103,614, according to a September 30 release from the governor’s office. The money comes through the West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program, supported by federal funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The largest award, $574,082, will pay for a mobile clinic in Braxton, Clay and Pocahontas counties. Patients would be able to receive primary and preventive care, behavioral health services, addiction treatment and help coordinating their care. According to Community Care’s release, the mobile unit will reach patients in areas without physical clinics, treating acute and chronic conditions and addressing barriers to care.
Community Care projects about 560 patient encounters in the mobile unit’s first year, according to the governor’s release.
Another $92,736 will go toward technology and infrastructure for remote care. Community Care says equipment upgrades will immediately increase the number of providers offering telehealth appointments through medical, behavioral health, addiction medicine and school-based services in eight rural counties. The governor’s release also lists maternal health and medical weight management among the services covered.
A $354,364 award will support a statewide apprenticeship program, with about 20 participants expected in its first year. Apprentices would earn wages while taking classes and training in clinical settings for jobs such as medical assistant, community health worker, pharmacy technician, case manager and certified nursing assistant. Community Care says it will work with educational partners’ training programs to reduce barriers to education for people entering the healthcare workforce.
For current employees, $82,432 will fund opportunities to earn certifications and licenses, take specialized training or pursue further education. Community Care says its Career Ladder Advancement program will work with educational partners to support employees’ career development. About 26 workers are expected to participate in the first year.
Community Care, a federally qualified health center, operates more than 60 care sites and 10 pharmacies, according to the governor’s release. It reports serving about 54,500 patients a year and employing more than 600 healthcare and support workers.
